The Irish Council Against Blood Sports congratulates the many anti-bloodsports/animal-friendly candidates who won seats in the local elections. Included below in the list of winning candidates are independents and also representatives of the Green Party, Labour Party, Fianna Fail, Fine Gael, Sinn Fein, Socialist Party/Anti Austerity Alliance, People Before Profit Alliance and United Left.

Congratulations also to anti-bloodsports Socialist Party representative Ruth Coppinger on being elected to Dail Eireann in the Dublin West by-election. In a text message to ICABS, Ruth confirmed her anti-cruelty stance, saying "I don't support [foxhunting or hare coursing]."

Among the newly elected MEPs, Marian Harkin MEP (Independent, Midlands North West Constituency) is opposed to hare coursing and in favour of drag hunting as a replacement for live animal hunting. In 2005, she voted in support of the Fur Farming (Prohibition) Bill 2004 which sought to ban fur farming in Ireland.

Nessa Childers MEP (Independent, Dublin Constituency) is "fervently anti-coursing". She has also signed a Eurogroup for Animals animal welfare pledge, including "I will strive to ensure that animals are recognised as sentient beings in all legislation that comes before the Parliament and strive to ensure all existing animal welfare related legislation is properly enforced..."

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan MEP (Independent, Midlands North West Constituency) last year supported an amendment to the Animal Health and Welfare Bill which sought to outlaw fur farming.

Sinn Fein's Matt Carthy (Midlands North West Constituency) was thanked last October for proposing a motion condemning illegal cockfighting in Monaghan. The motion - "Monaghan County Council condemns the practice of cock-fighting and we call on the Gardai to initiate a major crackdown on this practice in our county" - was adopted unanimously.

Thank you for voting for these compassionate candidates. Please join us in urging them to press the government to ban hare coursing, fox hunting, digging-out, terrierwork and all acts of cruelty to animals.

Newly elected animal-friendly councillors

Cllr Shane P O'Reilly (Fianna Fail, Cavan County Council - Ballyjamesduff)
"I totally am against both [foxhunting and hare coursing]. I love horse and greyhound racing. I was at a coursing meet with a friend of mine a few years ago, it disturbed me...it's shocking the terrible treatment of animals in this country." from a message to a local voter, May 2014.

Cllr Mick Barry (Socialist Party/Anti Austerity Alliance, Cork City Council)
"I am opposed to blood 'sports' and 'sports' that involve cruelty to animals. I am also opposed to wild animal circuses and favour a Council ban on them. I am equally opposed to foxhunting and hare coursing." from an email to ICABS, May 2014.

Cllr Mick Finn (Independent, Cork City Council)
"I personally don't like fox hunting or coursing, but I know that hunting has been around for centuries in Ireland. Many abhor but many also participate in these events." March 2014.

Cllr Mary Shields (Fianna Fail, Cork City Council)
"I am totally against any type of cruelty to animals. It abhors me to think anyone would cause pain or harm to an animal."

Cllr Kieran McCarthy (Sinn Fein, Cork County Council - Cobh)
"I'm against bloodsports and I'm a supporter of well known Cobh animal rights group, ARK." from a text message to ICABS, April 2014.

Cllr Breeda Bonner (Labour Party, South Dublin County Council)
"I am totally opposed to all forms of cruelty to animals and to Fox hunting, hare coursing and any blood sports." from an email to ICABS, April 2014.

Cllr Anne-Marie Dermody (Fine Gael, South Dublin County)
"I don't get the hunting think and how it could be someone's pleasure!" from a text message to ICABS, May 2014.

Cllr Mick Duff (Labour Party, South Dublin County Council)
In 2010, Cllr Duff proposed a motion calling for a ban on the import and sale of fur which was successfully passed by South Dublin County Council. He also supported a motion to ban circuses with wild animals from public lands in South County Dublin and monitors dog pounds in the county.

Martina Genockey (Labour Party, South Dublin County Council - Tallaght South)
"Absolutely [in favour of a ban on cruel hare coursing and foxhunting]. Very strong supporter of animal rights. I'm actually a vegetarian." from a tweet to ICABS, May 2014.

Cllr Trevor Gilligan (Fianna Fail, South Dublin County Council)
"Tackling animal cruelty has been a priority for me since elected in Clondalkin in 2004. We need to look at more ways to catch offenders who harm animals, be that for money, for fun or otherwise. Only recently a small innocent dog was gravely harmed when dogs were let loose in a park. There must be a cruelty to animals register so that the public can know about people who cause cruelty to animals. I have worked with many groups in Clondalkin and outside towards tackling animal cruelty, I have put down many motions on this issue at council level and will continue to do so if re-elected in Clondalkin...I would support a ban on foxhunting and hare coursing." from correspondence to ICABS, April 2014.

Paul Gogarty (Independent, South Dublin County Council)
Paul Gogarty is a former Green Party TD.

"Hare coursing involves cruelty to both hares and dogs and this has to stop," he stated. "I am not anti-greyhound racing, but an industry that knowingly engages in animal cruelty for profit is not one that should be allowed operate in such a fashion." During a Dail debate on the Greyhound Industry (Doping Regulation) Bill 2006, 8th June 2006.

"If asked, the majority of people in Ireland wish to have stag hunting banned. The majority of people, including those living in rural areas, also wish to have hare coursing banned...the maths and the clout do not add up for the Green Party to ban hare coursing although we have expressed our desire to get rid of hare coursing."

Cllr Pamela Kearns (Labour Party, South Dublin County Council - Templeogue Terenure)
"I am against any cruelty to animals." from a text message to ICABS, May 2014.

Cllr Gino Kenny (People Before Profit Alliance, South Dublin County Council)
"I'm against any type of blood Sport which wantonly hurts any animal. I hope one day soon that blood sports in Britain and Ireland are a relic of the past." - www.ginokenny.com. For more information, read our report

Cllr Dermot Looney (Independent, South Dublin County Council)
"Proud to have proposed the banning of circuses with wild animals from Council land & called for a national ban at the Council meeting." Cllr Looney comment on Twitter, 10th March 2014. Dermot Looney is the current Mayor of South Dublin County Council and will be seeking re-election in the new Templeogue-Terenure ward in May 2014.

"I am opposed both to foxhunting and coursing." from an email to ICABS, April 2014.

Cllr Guss O'Connell (Independent, South Dublin County Council)
"I fully support [animal welfare] and use any opportunity to promote it." from an email to ICABS, April 2014.

Charlie O'Connor (Fianna Fail, South Dublin County Council)
"I took careful note of your concerns regarding hare coursing and please be assured of my interest in the matter. I am pursuing this issue on your behalf and I will do all I can to help." Charlie O'Connor TD in a message to ICABS in July 2004.

In 2010, Charlie O'Connor TD voted in favour of the ban on carted deer hunting.

In 2005, foxes and mink were doomed to lives of misery on fur farms following the rejection by Dail Eireann of the Fur Farming (Prohibition) Bill 2004. The bill was defeated by 67 votes to 50. Charlie O'Connor was among the TDs who shamefully voted AGAINST the bill.

Cllr Pat Dunne (United Left - People Before Profit Alliance, Dublin City Council)
"I am in favour of an end to foxhunting, hare coursing and other forms of cruelty." from an email to ICABS, April 2014.

Cllr Mary Freehill (Labour Party, Dublin City Council)
"I'm very much in favour of a ban on foxhunting and hare coursing. Hare coursing in particular is extremely cruel." from a tweet to ICABS, May 2014.

In 2005, foxes and mink were doomed to lives of misery on fur farms following the rejection by Dail Eireann of the Fur Farming (Prohibition) Bill 2004. The bill was defeated by 67 votes to 50. Sean Haughey was among the TDs who shamefully voted AGAINST the bill.

In June 2005, Sean Haughey, TD asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food "her views on the horrific slaughter of 4,300 pigs on a farm in Waterford in 2002 which was presided over by officials from her Department".

Cllr Jane Horgan-Jones (Labour Party, Dublin City Council)
"Yes [I am in favour of a ban on foxhunting and hare coursing]." from a tweet to ICABS, May 2014.

Cllr Vincent Jackson (Independent, Dublin City Council)
"I am, and have always been, against bloodsports." from a text message to ICABS, May 2014.

Cllr Dermot Lacey (Labour Party, Dublin City Council)
"As a dog owner and animal lover generally I would be, and have been, supportive of typical animal rights issues over the years." from an email to ICABS, April 2014.

Cllr Criona Ni Dhalaigh (Sinn Fein, Dublin City Council)
"I am against any form of animal cruelty and abhor foxhunting and hare coursing." from a text message to ICABS, May 2014.

Cllr Damian O'Farrell (Independent, Dublin City Council / Clontarf)
"I am absolutely against the killing of animals for sport. Furthermore I don't agree with animals being held in circuses and have spoken out regarding this matter to Dublin City Council." from an email to ICABS, April 2014.

Cllr Cieran Perry (Independent, Dublin City Council)
"I believe that the netting and coursing of wild hares is a cruel and barbaric practice that has no place in the Ireland of today. Despite the introduction of muzzling, which coursing enthusiasts reassured the public would remove the "kill" element of this so-called sport, it is clear that the coursing fraternity cannot be trusted to police their own events. It is surely now time to consign this cruel and shameful practice to the dustbin of history once and for all". From a statement issued on 03 February, 2011.

In October 2010, Cieran Perry succeeded in getting a motion passed in Dublin City Council to ban the import and sale of real fur, in the jurisdiction of Dublin City.

Cllr Victor Boyhan (Independent, Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council)
In 2010, Cllr Victor Boyhan expressed support for a ban on the Ward Union. "I am absolutely against this horrific activity," he stated, branding the deerhunters a "barbaric lot".

Cllr Melissa Halpin (People Before Profit Alliance, Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council)
"As a socialist I completely abhor animal cruelty and all blood sports. In particular I am against the kind of intensive farming practices that see animals being imprisoned and force fed. Unfortunately, I believe that as long as we have a society that is driven by the profit motive, we will continue to see these practices and for that reason I think it is right to make this an election issue." from an email to ICABS, April 2014.

Cllr Richard Humphreys (Labour, Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council)
"I am in favour of stronger legislation on animal cruelty, including prohibiting foxhunting and hare coursing." from an email to ICABS, April 2014.

Karl Gill (People Before Profit, Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council - Dun Laoghaire)
"I am against foxhunting and hare coursing." from a tweet to ICABS, May 2014.

Cllr Hugh Lewis (People Before Profit Alliance, Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council)
"As a vegetarian, I believe that all forms of cruelty to animals is unacceptable."

Cllr Lettie McCarthy (Labour, Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council)
"I have the greatest respect for animals and oppose all cruelty." from an email to ICABS, April 2014.

Cllr Denis O Callaghan (Labour, Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council)
"I am opposed to animal cruelty in the areas of fox-hunting and hare coursing." from an email to ICABS, April 2014.

Cllr Carrie Smyth (Labour, Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council)
"I do not like to see cruelty to animals." from an email to ICABS, April 2014.

Cllr Eugene Coppinger (Socialist Party/Anti Austerity Alliance, Fingal County Council/Swords)
"I am totally opposed to all forms of animal abuse, including hare coursing and fox hunting. The Socialist Party, of which I am a member, have a very good record on this. A number of years ago, when Clare Daly was a member of our party, she put down a motion in Fingal County Council, calling for a ban on circuses having live animals in their show. The motion was carried. It now means that no circus which uses animals, will be allowed on any public area in Fingal." from an email to ICABS, April 2014.

David Healy (Green Party, Fingal County Council - Howth/Malahide)
"I am opposed to all blood sports including fox hunting and coursing and in favour of a ban on them." March 2014.

Cian O'Callaghan (Independent, Fingal County Council)
"I am supportive of your organisation and campaign." (from an email to ICABS in March 2012)

Roderic O'Gorman (Green Party, Fingal County Council)
"I have always strongly opposed blood sports, as I believe there is no moral justification for setting one animal against another for human enjoyment. If elected to Fingal County Council I will use all available powers of the local authority to oppose blood sports". Roderic O'Gorman, March 2014

In January 2012, Roderic O'Gorman, along with Green Party leader Eamon Ryan, were thanked for attending an anti-coursing protest outside the Department of Agriculture in Dublin.

Keith Redmond (Fine Gael, Fingal County Council - Howth-Malahide)
"Yes [I am in favour of a ban on foxhunting and hare coursing]." from a tweet to ICABS, May 2014.

Duncan Smith (Labour Party, Fingal County Council)
"I abhor the practice of hare coursing and foxhunting." from a tweet to ICABS, May 2014.

Cllr Niall McNelis (Labour, Galway City Council)
"You have my support on this [a ban on carted deer hunting] and I will be bringing this up with my party leader." (from an email to ICABS, 8th June 2010)

Anne Breen (Labour Party, Kildare County Council)
"I am very much against foxhunting and hare coursing...and would fully suport you stance." from a message to ICABS, May 2014.

Cllr Kevin Byrne (Labour Party, Kildare County Council)
"I am completely against animal cruelty in any form." from an email to ICABS, April 2014.

Cllr Darren Scully (Fine Gael, Kildare County Council)
"I am against all cruelty to animals, however what one person sees as cruel another sees as an acceptable part of life, many humans in this world are meat eaters and some would argue that it is cruel to kill cattle, deer, or rabbit to consume. I do not think it wrong or cruel to kill animals for consumption as long as it is done in a controlled manner monitored by the relevant state agency. I do think it is wrong to kill animals for sport, in this day and age we can still engage in sport without the need to take life intentionally. I am sure quite a few were not too pleased when the Romans did away with the gladiators." from an email to ICABS, May 2014.

Cllr Kathleen Funchion (Sinn Fein, Kilkenny County Council)
"I think like most people, I deplore the abuse of animals and cruelty to animals. It is something that is quite a passionate issue for many of our members locally and I think of it as an issue which deserves more airtime in our national and local discourse. Sinn Fein has opposed all bloodsports in Ireland and some of our members even went as far as stopping a hunt in Westmeath several years ago. Their position filled me with great pride and I have always tried my best to remain consistent in that view. A big issue in Kilkenny in the mistreatment of horses on the roads by some members of the community. That situation is abhorrent and can not continue. Should I be elected to Kilkenny County Council, it would be a great disappointment to me if the issue of animal welfare locally was still as prominent an issue at the end of the council term. I have always considered it an idea to create a register of animal abusers to make it more difficult for offenders to continue to own animals. I know that would only be the start of tackling the wider problem." from an email to ICABS, May 2014.

Cllr Malcolm Noonan (Green Party, Kilkenny County Council)
In February 2013, Cllr Noonan joined calls for a ban on foxhunting, describing it as "barbaric". His statement came in the wake of an horrific attack on a dog by hunt hounds in a Coillte forest in Carlow which left the family pet fighting for its life with severe injuries.

Aidan Mullins (Sinn Fein, Laois County Council)
"Personally I am against fox hunting and hare coursing." from an email to ICABS, May 2014.

Cllr John McCartin (Fine Gael, Leitrim County Council)
"I am very concerned about animal welfare" - from an email to ICABS in 2010.

Cllr Micheal Hourigan (Fine Gael, Limerick City and County Council)
"I am opposed to all forms of animal cruelty." from an email to ICABS, April 2014.

Cllr Joe Leddin (Labour Party, Limerick City and County Council)
"Totally opposed to both [foxhunting and hare coursing]" from a text message to ICABS, May 2014.

Elena Secas (Labour Party, Limerick City and County Council)
"I think best way to lower incidences of animal cruelty & prevent it from happening is by highlighting it through the media. This will be a way of educating and explaining why certain practices are not acceptable in our modern and developed society." from a tweet to ICABS, May 2014.

Cllr Mae Sexton (Independent, Longford County Council)
"I am totally opposed to bloodsports. You have my full support for the campaign." Cllr Mae Sexton to ICABS, May 2014.

Cllr Kevin Callan (Fine Gael, Louth County Council - Drogheda)
At a meeting of Drogheda Borough Council in 2012, Cllr Callan proposed a motion to ban wild animal-act circuses from using public borough land.

Cllr Mark Dearey (Green Party, Louth County Council)
"You can continue to enjoy the essence of the pastime on the basis of a drag hunt where the scent is dragged, rather than releasing a wild animal - but they turn their noses up at that...The other option is the release of the deer and its recapture before the hunt - the scent remains, but it doesn't lead to the animal being cornered, and in some cases killed. It's an exercise in terrorising the poor animal." Speaking as a Senator, Sunday Business Post, 04 April 2010

Cllr Shane Cassells (Fianna Fail, Meath County Council)
ICABS thanked Cllr Shane Cassells in 2010 for being one of only 3 Meath County Councillors who voted against a pro-blood sports motion. "I firmly believe that the majority of Meath people are in favour of seeing the pursuit of live deer banned...I was very pleased to speak out against the mistruths which the RISE campaign are using to try and advance their cause." Read More

Cllr Gerry O'Connor (Fine Gael, Meath County Council)
"I am opposed to all forms of animal cruelty. I support Minister Coveney in regards the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013. I understand that people are passionate about legitimate field sports but want clear standards to protect animal welfare and ensure that these sports are carried out in a proper manner." from a text message to ICABS, May 2014.

Cllr Sean Conlon (Sinn Fein, Monaghan County Council)
In 2012, Cllr Conlon proposed a motion in support of a ban on circuses that involve the degradation and abuse of wild animals. The motion was successfully passed at a meeting of Monaghan County Council.

"Continued use in a modern compassionate society of wild animals in circuses should be a thing of the past." Cllr Sean Conlon, 5th September 2012.

Cllr Michael Mulligan (Sinn Fein, Roscommon County Council)
"With you all the way - total ban on bloodsports." from a comment left on the ICABS Facebook page, May 2014.

Thomas Healy (Sinn Fein, Sligo County Council)
"I am against all forms of cruelty to animals." from a tweet to ICABS, April 2014.

Eamon Scanlon (Fianna Fail, Sligo County Council)
As a Fianna Fail TD in 2010, Eamon Scanlon voted in favour of the ban on carted deer hunting.

Cllr Mary Hanna Hourigan (Fine Gael, Tipperary South County Council)
"I couldn't bear to look at that [hare coursing] footage, it would make me too angry and upset. I fully support your point of view." from an email to ICABS in March 2012.

Cllr Joe Conway (Independent, Waterford City and County Council)
"As one who has due regard for all living things, I support wholeheartedly your stance on animal cruelty. I took a stand - while Mayor - of non-cooperation with any circus owners who took their 'show' to town here." from an email to ICABS, March 2014.

Cllr John Hearne (Sinn Fein, Waterford City and County Council)
"I'm against all forms of animal cruelty. I banned with a motion all circus animals from council property and I'm in the process of passing a by-law to ban sulky racing off the roads...I voted against [a pro-coursing motion]. I believe if people want to entertain themselves it should not involve stressing animals." from an email to ICABS, April 2014.

Cllr Mary Roche (Independent, Waterford City and County Council - Waterford City East)
"Personally I would ban all blood sports." from a tweet to ICABS, May 2014.

Cllr Ken Glynn (Fianna Fail, Westmeath County Council)
In January 1999, Ken Glynn voted in support of a Mullingar Town Commission motion calling for a ban on foxhunting with hounds. At his first meeting as a Mullingar Town Commissioner, Commissioner Glynn expressed his disgust at foxhunting. "As a keen sportsman," he stated, "I think foxhunting is an insult to sport."

Cllr Malcolm Byrne (Fianna Fail, Wexford County Council)
Wexford County Councillor Malcolm Byrne has expressed opposition to coursing in Ireland, saying he would "support any legislation at national level that would ban hare coursing". The Fianna Fail politician's statement came in response to an ICABS email in which we highlighted the suffering caused to hares used as live lures in coursing. In September 2010, Cllr Byrne stated: "I am personally opposed to hare coursing, which I view as cruel."

Cllr Robert Ireton (Labour Party, Wexford County Council)
"My views on hare coursing is that it should be banned. Any opportunity I get to voice my opinion on this, my reply is always the same and I have spoken about this on many occasions." (From an email to ICABS, 5th November 2013)

Cllr Pat Kavanagh (Independent Candidate, Wicklow County Council)Pat Kavanagh is a "a Local Community, Environmental and Animal Welfare Campaigner". She is currently a Wicklow Town Councillor and will be running as a candidate for Wicklow County Council.
"I am COMPLETELY opposed to blood sports - cruel, barbaric, inhuman" - Cllr Pat Kavanagh, 22nd March 2014.

"I have a huge interest in Animal Welfare - I challenged the Council cull of 63 horses in Ballyguile and will continue to seek out a no-cull solution to the equine crisis in Ireland. I have been a member and supporter of 'Chance', Wicklow Dog Pound Lobby & Rescue group since its inception. I was responsible for bringing in the Wicklow Town ban on circuses which use wild animals from performing or advertising on public lands. I am a member of the Irish Council Against Blood Sports - www.banbloodsports.com" - from a statement by Cllr Kavanagh on www.patkavanagh.net.

"You can be assured that you have my full support." Cllr Pat Kavanagh, Wicklow Town Councillor, January 2013

In 2011, as the then Deputy Co-Ordinator of the Fis Nua political party, Cllr Pat Kavanagh succeeded in getting the following motion passed at a party convention: "We denounce all forms of animal cruelty and terrorisation, and hunting animals for sport."

Nicola Lawless (Sinn Fein candidate, Wicklow County Council - Greystones)"Yes I would be in favour of a ban on cruel hare coursing and fox hunting. I am against animal cruelty." from a tweet to ICABS, May 2014.

Cllr John Ryan (Fine Gael, Wicklow County Council / Bray)"I would like to clarify that I am against animal cruelty." from an email to ICABS, April 2014.

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